Barclays Women’s Super League leaders Manchester United edged Aston Villa 3-2 with a last gasp goal watched by 4,176 at Bescot Stadium.
Villa were ahead inside 10 minutes, when Rachel Daly met Lucy Staniforth’s corner with a perfect glancing header that dropped inside the far post.
United soon levelled with a Ona Battle cross turned in by Leah Galton, but the home side nearly got a second from a corner, Anna Patten’s header hitting the bar.
Villa needed a goal-line clearance quickly followed by a smart Hannah Hampton save from Galton’s strike to keep it 1-1.
Daly restored the lead when finding the far corner from a Maz Pacheco cutback, a disallowed goal for United then ensuring Villa remained ahead at half time.
The crossbar denied Daly her hat-trick and minutes afterwards Nikita Parris headed the visitors level from a Hannah Blundell cross.
Manchester United won it at the death, as substitute Millie Turner headed home Katie Zelem’s stoppage-time corner.
They now open up a six-point lead at the top but have played more games than their three title rivals.
